Page 139 of Please Hate Me

Seb thoughtCalvinstarted the fire? That didn’t seem right. Why would a sixteen-year-old boy want to set fire to his family, all of his belongings, and even his own body?

Still, Sebastian was the detective here; he probably knew a lot more than I did. I skimmed through the page once more before shaking my head.

“All it says is that Dale was stepping up as the boy’s temporary guardian. I guess the families were friends or something.”

Sebastian’s lips pursed as he thought. Since he didn’t seem to have any more questions about the article, I assumed now was a good time to claim my reward.

“Was Calvin in the picture?” That seemed like a safe question to start with.

He hesitated before answering.

“He was, yes.”

Okay, so there was some reason Sebastian didn’t want me to see a picture of Calvin. But... why?

“Is Calvin in Hartwood?”

Sebastian winced at my question.

“I believe so.”

My heart ached at the idea that Calvin didn’t die, as awful as that sounded. Losing my mom at seventeen completely destroyed me, and I didn’t even like Holly. If I had lost my dad, too... actually, I couldn’t even picture that. Despite all the restrictions James had placed on me for the sake of my career, I adored my dad. If I lost him, I might never be the same.

“Is Calvin okay?” The question fell from my lips like a lead weight.

Heat colored my face as Sebastian took in my words. He looked at me like I was crazy. Out of everything I could have asked, why that?

His brow remained fused as he studied me.

“I, uh, I think so?”

There was something in Sebastian’s gaze that I didn’t like—darkness and frustration, like there was more to the situation than I could comprehend. I swallowed hard as I considered his line of questioning around Calvin specifically.

“Do you... think Calvin is a serial killer?”

Sebastian closed his eyes and nodded once, as if he had to convince himself before responding. I knew Sebastian was a brilliant detective with a doctorate degree, and that he’d been working on this case for a long time. I, on the other hand, had zero authority on the topic, and little to no information, but... something in my gut told me he was wrong.

My fingers graced Calvin’s name on the page. I didn’t know this Canadian boy, but I was willing to fight tooth and nail for his innocence, even if I realized how fruitless it was.

I had one question left, and I had to make it count:

“What about Dale?”

Chapter 38

Cameron

It had been almost a year since I last heard Dale’s voice, but somehow, the passage of time didn’t make this phone call any more delightful to have. The second his name showed up on my caller ID, I barricaded myself in my bedroom. Nobody else could be allowed to hear the things I might need to say to him. He knew about the family I’d found for myself in Hartwood, and that I’d been taking care of kids who weren’t mine. This was a life Dale didn’t approve of, but one he couldn’t interfere with. I had a feeling all that would change if he heard a certain pop star in the background.

“Did you know Mason Albright is pregnant?” His drawl passed through the phone in a quiet rumble, but his words were deafening.

“I, uh, I didn’t think you were one for pop culture.” Nerves infested my tone like bed bugs in a shady motel.

“I’m not,” Dale grunted. “But I do remember that I sent you to a rock concert in hopes that you’d save some poor sinner’s soul… She’s a good choice.”

No, she’s not.

He cleared his throat before continuing. “Her music videos are full of satanic imagery—”

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